I just spent more than 24 hours without the internet because a couple of things got unhooked somewhere by accident. It was crazy! It was like having the power go out or breaking an arm—so many tasks had to be re-learned. Anyway, I only mention it because in the middle of this crisis, we got a very timely package from my mother-in-law.
It was an empty cereal box. Store brand Grape Nuts. But check out the back!
It’s as if someone at Hannaford’s generic cereal division decided that people who eat generic Grape Nuts would like to be transported to the year 1996 as they’re eating breakfast, and then at least one other person approved of that idea and made it happen. It’s visually stunning, and the text is perfectly odd too. Here’s a closer look:
It strikes me as especially weird because, even if this is meant for the few elderly people who still haven’t acquainted themselves with the internet, I’m thinking the information provided wouldn’t be particularly helpful to them. Except maybe for the emoticons key.
I honestly thought this was an ancient cereal box that Bonney unearthed in her pantry or craft room, but no! This box’s contents weren’t supposed to expire until December 2nd of this year.
My new theory is that Hannaford outsources its cereal box content to someplace bizarre… but where? I really would like someone (who has more spare time than I) to get to the bottom of this.
By the way, we’re now back online and everything is going to be OK. Everyone hug your internet extra tight tonight!
I’m so anxious to see if this strikes others the same way it did me. I felt puzzled and laughed at it EVERY time I had a serving of this cereal. I’d like to add that I usually buy Grape-Nuts but Hannaford is so devious they only had their own brand. I can’t wait to go back and see what other important information awaits me!
Maybe it’s just us, Bonney!
I really love the giant pc monitor in that they’re all looking at. I haven’t seen one of those in a long time. There was another article about this box last october here: http://kiddynamitesworld.com/know-youre-getting-old/
I’ve also been having a lot of problems with my internet. It seems that this website and my email were the only things that were spared, but this cheered me up and at least I can look at all of your adorable creations <3
That’s so funny, Mariette! I was wondering who else had noticed this…
It’s like Bonney is psychic, sending you that box in the middle of your internet outage. Kind of time-warp creepy, yet fun!
You should post this on Jelly, someone might have an answer!
http://jelly.co
Insanity! The stock photo has to be from 1998.. My theory is that this very cereal box back was published a decade ago on another cereal box somewhere, and the graphic was unearthed from a time capsule 3 1/2″ hard disk.
That cereal box is amazing! It reminds me of those movie theater intro reels where you are riding on a roller coaster through all the concession products. :-/ (“eh, whatever”)